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'W. T. JEFFERSON. PAPER-BUILDING BLOCK- .No. 550,793. Patented Dec. 3; 1895.

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NlTED TATES PATENT 'FFrcn.

PAPER BUILDING-BLOCK.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,793, dated December 3, 1895. Application filed May 22, 1895. Serial No 550,194. (No model.)

To an whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. JEFFER- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper Building-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved toy building-block which can be readily separated and folded or collapsed so as to be conveniently shipped and rapidly made up whenever required, and forms a very cheap and attractive toy building-block for childrens use, which can also be used to advantage for advertising purposes; and the invention consists of a toy building-block which is composed of two sections, of which the inner section is-of slightly less size than the outer section, so that it can be slipped into the same and sustain and reinforce the outer section, the outer faces of said sections being provided with letters of the alphabet, numbers, and other characters, and the sections of said block being creased at the cor- 11ers and adapted to be folded up and collapsed when the sections are detached from each other.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my i1nproved toy building-block. Figs. Band 3 are perspective views of the two sections of the same, shown as separated from each other. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on line 4. 4:, Fig. l; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the sections of the block, shown in their fiattened or collapsed condition.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A and B represent, respectively, the outer and inner bozo like sections of my improved toy buildingblock. Each section is made of stout paper or other suitable stiff material, which is printed on its outside with letters, numbers, and other characters, the sections A B, from which the block is made, being respectively transversely creased at four points a a a a and Z) Z) I) b, so as to rapidly form the corners of the block when it is set up. Each boxlike section is open at the ends, and the inner section B is to be smaller than the section A, so that the former can be readily in sorted into the outer section in such a manner that the axis passing through the center of the open ends of one section is at right angles to the axis passing through the center of the open ends of the outer section. Then the inner box-like section Bis inserted into the outer box-like section A, a closed cubical block that has considerable strength is formed, as the inner section reinforces the outer section, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Some of the sides or panels of the box-like sections may be used for advertising purposes, so that toy building-blocks can be furnished at a comparatively small expense.

When shipping the blocks the sections are disconnected from each other and flattened or collapsed, as shown in Fig. 5, in which state any quantity of blocks can be shipped in a small space. The blocks are rapidly made up for use and form very attractive and educational blocks for childrens use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A foldable or collapsible toy building-block, composed of an outer boxlil:.e section open at opposite sides an inner box-like section of somewhat smaller size inserted in the outer section, said section being also open at opposite sides, but the inner section being in serted in such a manner that its open sides are at right angles to the open sides of the outer section, and said sections being creased at their corners so as to be folded into flat or collapsed shape when detached, substantially as set forth. a

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM T. JEFFERSON.

. Witnesses:

GEO. L. WHnELooK, GEORGE W. JAEKEL. 

